Which is not an example of broadly utilitarian concept of biodiversity conservation?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → Products of medicinal importance
Option (1) Oxygen replenishment — Broadly utilitarian. NCERT says the Amazon forest is estimated to produce, through photosynthesis, 20 per cent of the oxygen in the earth’s atmosphere. This free service of nature is part of the broadly utilitarian argument.
Option (2) Pollination — Broadly utilitarian. Pollination by bees, bumblebees, birds and bats is a service ecosystems provide; without it plants cannot give fruits or seeds. NCERT lists it under the broadly utilitarian argument.
Option (3) Products of medicinal importance — Not broadly utilitarian. Products of medicinal importance are a direct economic benefit from nature. NCERT lists them under the narrowly utilitarian argument, with food, firewood and fibre.
Option (4) Pleasure of walking through thick woods — Broadly utilitarian. The aesthetic pleasure of walking through thick woods is one of the intangible benefits NCERT names under the broadly utilitarian argument.
NCERT Extract:
Why Should We Conserve Biodiversity? – “… The narrowly utilitarian arguments for conserving biodiversity are obvious; humans derive countless direct economic benefits from nature-food (cereals, pulses, fruits), firewood, fibre, construction material, industrial products (tannins, lubricants, dyes, resins, perfumes ) and products of medicinal importance.”
Why Should We Conserve Biodiversity? – “… The broadly utilitarian argument says that biodiversity plays a major role in many ecosystem services that nature provides. The fast-dwindling Amazon forest is estimated to produce, through photosynthesis, 20 per cent of the total oxygen in the earth’s atmosphere.”
Why Should We Conserve Biodiversity? – “… Pollination (without which plants cannot give us fruits or seeds) is another service, ecosystems provide through pollinators layer – bees, bumblebees, birds and bats.”
Why Should We Conserve Biodiversity? – “… There are other intangible benefits – that we derive from nature–the aesthetic pleasures of walking through thick woods, watching spring flowers in full bloom or waking up to a bulbul’s song in the morning.”